Parliament on October 05 passed the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which will see the Rebecca Kadaga Institute of Parliamentary Studies’ (RAKIPS) renamed.
Besides making RAKIPS less autonomous, the legislation will also see the office of the deputy speaker given more powers where the deputy speaker will be a full member of the Parliamentary Commission, and will not serve as a stand-in assistant only when the speaker is absent.
During Tuesday’s plenary, Kilak North MP Anthony Akol (FDC) presented the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
In his bill, MP Akol sought to repeal the Institute of Parliamentary Studies Act, 2020, remove former Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga’s name the Rebecca Kadaga Institute of Parliamentary Studies’ (RAKIPS) — and rename it Institute of Parliamentary Studies (IPS).
The MP also want the administration of IPS returned to parliamentary service, instead of running the same as an agency of government.
RAKIPS began as a department of Parliament in 2012 (It was then known as IPS).
But the 10th Parliament enacted the Institute of Parliamentary Studies Act, 2020, which made the school semi-autonomous.
On October 30, Akol’s motion seeking leave of Parliament to introduce a private members bill to change the administration of RAKIPS was seconded by MP Christine Apolot (Kumi District Woman) and Dan Kimosho (Kazo County).
Then, Akol said he wanted to lessen the burden on tax payers who have to finance the ever-growing number of agencies.
If Museveni assents to the Akol bill, the Institute of Parliamentary Studies Act 2020 will be repealed, the institute’s autonomy will be reversed, IPS staff will also be re-absorbed into the Parliamentary Service and Kadaga’s name will be knocked off to make RAKIPS IPS.
The journey to the institute’s disbandment seems to already be underway as clerk to parliament Adolf Mwesige has already instituted a probe into alleged mismanagement of the institute’s funds.
